What is the Council of Oriental Medical Publishers and why does Paradigm support their efforts?

C.O.M.P., the Council of Oriental Medical Publishers, is a group of writers and publishers who accept the importance of labeling the sources of information in books, articles and multimedia products that make claims about acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, massage therapy, and other healing traditions from East Asia. Put bluntly—and over simply—there are two schools of thought about East Asian medicine. Some believe that East Asian healing arts like Chinese Medicine are "fuzzy." They propose that these arts contain so many multiple meanings and imprecise concepts that practitioners for whom personal clinical experience is the unique or primary source of understanding must interpret the information for English-speaking readers. Thus, they believe Chinese medicine is conceptually small enough that it can be transmitted by individuals without refernce to a publically available Chinese medical dictionaries and that concepts need not be preserved in translation. In general, people who write or publish from this perspective do not provide C.O.M.P. labels on their books, do not reference a source of definitions beyond the context in which they are used, and provide relatively small glossaries with the books they write or publish. For a detailed view of these matters please see our References section.

Following are some reviews of Paradigm Titles from national and international magazines, jounals, and figures. You will find these reviews below in text format. However, we have also provided downloadable copies of the reviews in PDF and DOC format. If you are planning to print out the reviews, we advise using either of these documents. Download the reviews:Download in PDF format (opens with Adobe Acrobat )Download in DOC format (opens with Microsoft Word) THE ACUPRESSURE WARM-UP by Marc Coseo "I must confess that I approached this book with some prejudice. On reading it, however, I was unexpectedly impressed by its sincerity and effective application of a simple technique…The proof of the benefits of any technique are clearly in their results, and the book includes some exceedingly impressive case histories that I would have been proud to achieve with acupuncture." – Journal of Chinese Medicine

"The next step in the evolution of sport." – High Tech Coaching and Training

"This straight-forward and easy-to-use text is aimed at the layperson and is a good self-help reference to `prescribe' to your patients. I also recommend it to those practitioners who follow the maxim, `Physician Heal Thyself.'"– Australian Journal of Acupuncture

BOTANICAL MEDICINE: A EUROPEAN PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE by Dan Kenner and Yves Requena "…what one is offered, within the covers of the text, presents an exciting foray into the unique clinical world of European herbal medicine…For those interested in broadening their perspective and improving their clinical efficacy, this text definitely has something to offer." – Chris Zaslawski, Meeting Point

"The interested layperson will find quite a bit of usable information in the second section…I learned new things about many familiar plants while reading this section, as well as the names an properties of others not in the traditional Western practitioner's kit-bag…As a novice with no formal medial education, I can only marvel at the lucidity of the writers, that I can actually read and enjoy this sophisticated new approach to total health. I recommend it to all open-minded souls who are interested in the medicines of the future." – The Empty Vessel

CHARACTER AND HEALTH: THE RELATIONSHIP OF ACUPUNCTURE AND PSYCHOLOGY by Yves Requena ``…a layperson's introduction to his more complex, richly detailed, and still evolving practitioner's model of allopathy and acupuncture as outlined in his earlier Terrains and Pathology in Acupuncture." – East West CHASING THE DRAGON'S TAIL by Yoshio Manaka, Kazuko Itaya and Stephen Birch "…never before has this reviewer found, in one text, so much information that can be incorporated in both a TCM and a Meridian Therapy framework. All through the book we are encouraged to test and confirm everything that is presented, which is altogether refreshing approach… We are inspired not just to `Chase the Dragon's Tail,' but to ride the Dragon home." – Pacific Journal of Oriental Medicine

"Once in a while a book comes along that attempts to transcend the known boundaries of knowledge and forge a new paradigm. Chasing the Dragon's Tail … is indeed one of these books. Manaka was a forward-thinking and innovative acupuncture practitioner who attempted to integrate traditional Chinese energy concepts with the new sciences. [This is accomplished] in a language that is applicable not only to acupuncturists, but to the clinicians of the future." – Chris Zaslawski, Meeting Point

CHINESE ACUPUNCTURE by George Soulie de Morant "The most recent translation of George Soulie de Morant's Chinese Acupuncture into the English language is a monumental effort…both a clinical text and a philosophical discourse and as such has much to offer the practitioner and the academic." – Chris Zaslawski, Meeting Point

"A classic in its own right." – China Review International "This scholarly work, though daunting in its size and detail…is a must-read for all dedicated students and practitioners of acupuncture." – Pacific Journal of Oriental Medicine CHINESE MEDICINE by Paul U. Unschuld "…a worthwhile read…accessible to the general reader without compromising academic standards of scholarship. If you are a fan of Unschuld's you will enjoy reading Chinese Medicine and if you have not tried his longer works yet, this may be the book to begin with." – Brian May, Pacific Journal of Oriental Medicine

"…an important and timely contribution …[from] one of the world's leading authorities on the history of Chinese medicine. This book is a ``must read" for everyone practicing or studying Chinese medicine." – Acupuncture Society of Massachusetts

CLINICAL HANDBOOK OF CHINESE PREPARED MEDICINES by Chun-Han Zhu "…absolutely essential for any practitioner who cares about their art and it should be required reading for every American acupuncture student. In its thoroughness, it goes well beyond any previous book on the subject. It could even be used effectively as a `Consumer's Digest' by the lay patient…certainly there is nothing like it in the field. …Wonderfully researched and succinctly written, [the ClinicalHandbook ] provides us with information we might otherwise take years to acquire. Chun-Han Zhu helps us make [our herbal medicine purchase] an intelligent one, a safer one…[This book] belongs in the library of anyone taking or prescribing these often mysterious medications." – Qi: The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health and Fitness

Chun-Han Zhu has provided us with a much-needed key to the secrets of the herb shops…an excellent clinical handbook which is well presented in both content and layout." – Australian Journal of Acupuncture "The book is divided in two parts. Part I explores the modern approach to the use of prepared Chinese formulas with brief introductions to their history, manufacture, and quality control… Part II, the main text, details the source, use, form, and administration of Chinese prepared medicines…a detailed and useful reference…" – Foster's Botanical & Herb Reviews

"This is the most authoritative of the books listed [in a listing of titles on Chinese patent medicines] – the author is thoroughly familiar with the subject from personal experience as a practitioner and teacher…a high-quality book." – Medical Herbalism

EXTRAORDINARY VESSELS by Kiiko Matsumoto and Stephen Birch "It is a delight to see that there is a return to the original concepts of acupuncture and the movement of energy on a global level, as distinct from the use of points purely for the removal of specific perverse influences." – British Journal of Acupuncture

"…this is an excellent book to be highly recommended to any acupuncture practitioner…"– Giovanni Maciocia, in a letter to the Journal of Traditional Acupuncture

FORGOTTEN TRADITIONS OF ANCIENT CHINESE MEDICINE translated by Paul U. Unschuld "This is a timeless text by a physician-scholar and medical writer which carries such inherent universality in its thought that the reader may easily feel like the author's contemporary colleague…will serve as a frequent reference source and provide excellent teaching material in the field." – The AAMA Review

"Clearly we have come a long way from the muddled and mystical translations of medical works that appeared when Chinese medicine was just beginning to revive in the United States and Europe." – China Review International "…Unschuld's is a very useful work and much-welcomed effort. It should be included in any library interested in Chinese history or Chinese medicine." – The Journal of Asian Studies

"Reading the text we have the privilege of learning from a superb physician sharing the experiences of a lifetime's work…These insights are supported by Unschuld's careful annotation and translation…highly recommended to anyone interested in Oriental medicine." – TAS Journal

"It is a scholarly undertaking well worth the reading time to gleam gems of holistic healing philosophy still applicable today…Definitely for the serious student of Chinese medicine." – The American Herb Association

"Those interested in the history of Chinese medicine and science will certainly want to read this (and any) work by Paul U. Unschuld." – Foster's Botanical and Herb Reviews

FUNDAMENTALS OF CHINESE ACUPUNCTURE by Andrew Ellis, Nigel Wiseman, and Ken Boss "…a treasury of practical value, to dip into and consult rather than languish on a shelf gathering dust." – Traditional Acupuncture Journal

FUNDAMENTALS OF CHINESE MEDICINE by Nigel Wiseman and Andy Ellis "This book will make history…The standards set by this book cannot be neglected by anyone writing on Chinese medicine in the future." – Professor Dr. Paul U. Unschuld GLOSSARY OF CHINESE MEDICAL TERMS AND ACUPUNCTURE POINTS by Nigel Wiseman and Ken Boss "The authors have pioneered a cooperative approach to the translation of Chinese medicine and acupuncture that combines the standards of professional translation, philological principles, and clinical expertise." – American Journal of Acupuncture

"Chinese traditional medical terms and acupuncture points are often difficult, if not impossible, to translate. This glossary is the best available attempt at rendering them into English…a valuable reference guide…recommended for all academic and larger special medical libraries and for large reference collections." – Hwa-Wei Lee, ARBA

GRASPING THE WIND by Andrew Ellis, Nigel Wiseman, and Ken Boss "Here is a foundation on which it is safe to build." – Sara Hicks, Traditional Acupuncture Journal

"Grasping the Wind provides students a unique opportunity to study an application of Chinese medical language in a clear, appropriately documented and culturally valid context." – American Journal of Acupuncture "All in all, it is a well-produced and recommended text." – Peter Eckman, Journal of Traditional Acupuncture HARA DIAGNOSIS: REFLECTIONS ON THE SEA by Kiiko Matsumoto and Stephen Birch "It is thought-provoking and crosses into areas that are rarely touched upon by both modern Chinese researchers and the more innovative of our Western acupuncture educators. It tackles many difficult concepts such as the spiritual, mental, and emotional; aspects of Chinese medicine, source theory, and classical energetic anatomy and physiology. It is a book you can dip into at any time and come out with gems of insight that can only reinforce your belief in a paradigm that is just starting to be explored by our culture and our scientific community." – Australian Journal of TCM

THE I CHING HANDBOOK by Edward A. Hacker "This book is an invaluable guide for both students and scholars of the I Ching . Professor Hacker brings together a diversity of materials never assembled in one volume. His presentation of the formal aspects of the I Ching is the best I have ever seen. The addition of what may well be the most extensive annotated bibliography on the I Ching in print, makes Hacker's book first rate and absolutely indispensable." – J.H. Wellbank, Professor Emeritus, Northeastern University

"The I Ching Handbook will quickly become a standard work. It is comprehensive with respect to this notoriously difficult Chinese classic but also with respect to the very substantial literature that has grown around it in the last 2,500 years." – Gordon E. Pruett JAPANESE ACUPUNCTURE: A CLINICAL GUIDE by Stephen Birch and Junko Ida "…required reading for anyone with an interest in non-TCM acupuncture styles. It provides the essential clinical and practical context for any discussion of acupuncture originating in Japan." – Charles Chace

" The authors' sincere interest and scholarship are everywhere evident in this text. Its relevance…makes it an ideal choice for students and practitioners." – Junji Mizutani, Editor, North American Journal of Oriental Medicine "Japanese Acupuncture: A Clinical Guide is a through an excellent overview of Japanese techniques and palpatory skills and is destined to become a basic textbook…Birch and Ida's book will catapult Japanese-style acupuncture into the mainstream that it deserves." – Jake Fratkin, OMD, National Association of Teachers of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

"What an impressive and enjoyable book! It is easy to read, and packed full of information for the novice as well as the experienced practitioner…includes many treatment suggestions and case studies never before available in English." – Martin Feldman, Director, Japanese Acupuncture Department, New England School of Acupuncture KAMPO TREATMENT FOR CLIMACTERIC DISORDERS by Yoshiharu Shibata and Jean Wu "It is refreshing…to see such an accomplished analysis of Kampo…the authors take great pains to explain their subject in terms that are comprehensible to Western medical practitioners…This is a great book for anyone interested in exploring the rich tradition of Japanese herbal medicine, especially for those Western medical doctors who wish to expand their therapeutic techniques." – North American Journal of Oriental Medicine

"I found the book to be very interesting and thorough in its discussion of Kampo medicine for the treatment of menopause-related conditions. I would recommend the book to complementary physicians who are interested in Oriental medicine as well as interested laypeople." – Dr. Susan Lark

"[Dr. Shibata] was without a doubt one of the great masters of modern times…The theoretical structure of kampo does not yield easily to didactic instruction, and Jean Wu has done a superb job of making it clear to the practitioner or student of Oriental medicine…Hopefully, future work in the explication of kampo will adhere to similar standards of precision and clarity."—Daniel C. Kenner, L.Ac.

"All I have are compliments…the prose is wonderful – clear, precise. The point-of-view is admirable, informed and balanced." – Charles Leslie, Harvard Medical School

LEARN TO READ CHINESE (VOLS. 1 & 2) by Paul U. Unschuld "…an excellent text for the student of Chinese medicine who wants to gain further understanding by reading text in the original. Paul Unschuld's translations are clear and precise and his choice of material is excellent. My students love it." – Marnae Ergil, Pacific Institute of Oriental Medicine

A PRACTICAL DICTIONARY OF CHINESE MEDICINE by Nigel Wiseman and Feng Ye "In developing the ability to read Chinese medical source texts, one's task is made tremendously easier by Wiseman and Ye's new Dictionary…This book is the product of a tremendous effort and is an important contribution to the transmission and understanding of Chinese medical knowledge to the West.`` – The Journal of the National Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

"…what a great resource for all of us in the Oriental medicine community…a much needed beginning to giving English-speaking practitioners and teachers a common reference base." – Aron Skrypeck, New Mexico Center for Nursing Therapeutics

"I cannot praise this dictionary too highly. It goes beyond defining Chinese Medicine terminology in the West and will surely shape its future as it has defined its past. It belongs on everybody's shelf: the student, the practitioner, the teacher, and the academic." – Chris Zaslawski, Meeting Point

"Wiseman and Ye have created an exemplary reference work characterized by its erudition, completeness, and accessibility. The compilers' preface details every aspect of the work's purpose, genesis, and scope. The stated objective was to create a dictionary that would be ``useful to practitioners, students, and teachers of Chinese medicine in the English-speaking world, whether or not they have knowledge of Chinese and whether or not they are familiar with the terminology presented." The arrangement is alphabetical in order (as opposed to a thematic ordering) of English terms, with each entry followed by the original Chinese term and Pinyin transliteration. The definitions are often followed by extensive clinical information that may include specification of western medical correspondences, medication, acupuncture, and treatment. Entries are extensively cross-referenced, which is a key feature to accessing the content of this work given the unfamiliarity of many of the concepts. The entries conclude with references to sources, the vast majority of which are in Chinese. Also included are four appendices and an index that allows access to the English entries by their Pinyin transcriptions as well as an index to medicinals and acupuncture-point names appearing in the text. With its approximately 6,000 entries, this encyclopedic dictionary may serve as a clinical manual and would make an invaluable tool for those learning about Chinese medical concepts. It will also be of interest to translators as the compilers have extensive experience with terminological work in this area. This is a dictionary designed for specialists and can be expected to appeal to a specific audience; nevertheless, current interest in acupuncture and other forms of alternative medicine may indicate a wider audience for this title." – Michael Weinberg, American Reference Books Annual, #30. PRACTICAL THERAPEUTICS OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE by Wu Yan and Warren Fischer 'It is clear that this represents a lifetime of work and most importantly, it has been put into a form that is easily understandable by those who practice Western medicine. I, for one, have been thrilled to see, all in one place, the complexity and beauty of traditional Chinese medicine as it is articulated [here]." – Christiane Northrup, MD "An incredible compilation of information on Chinese medicine." – Bernie Siegel, MD

"The finest textbook of Chinese internal medicine on the market, primarily because of its clarity." – Z'ev Rosenberg, Pacific Institute and College of Oriental Medicine

``Well organized and at times fascinating, this textbook will be enormously useful to practitioners and students of Chinese medicine." – Advances in Mind-Body Medicine

"…our expectations of what constitutes a clinically informative and valuable TCM text have greatly increased…Practical Therapeutics of Traditional Chinese Medicine more than fulfills these expectations. It is a necessary addition to any practitioner's shelf…In short, there is little doubt that this text will soon be considered a classic in English TCM." – David L. Boyd, Ph.D., DTOM

PULSE DIAGNOSIS by Li Shi Zhen "…an important and an indispensable text for clinics and undergraduate acupuncture programs. Any school not including Li Shi Zhen's Pulse Diagnosis as a basic reference or as an essential text of their curriculum would be remiss." – Oriental Medicine

"The level of detail is significantly higher than has been previously available…[T]he most accessible reference to understanding Chinese pulse diagnosis." – American Journal of Acupuncture

A QIN BOWEI ANTHOLOGY translated by Charles Chace "…a high-level work which will serve to deepen understanding and practice." – The Journal of Chinese Medicine

"…does what, regrettably for the profession, no other English publication has done until now – give the lecture notes, writings and thoughts of a prominent modern voice in mainland Chinese medicine…The question here is…why hasn't this material been available before?" – Z'ev Rosenberg, Pacific Institute and College of Oriental Medicine TERRAINS AND PATHOLOGY IN ACUPUNCTURE by Yves Requena "Here at last is a book which deals with acupuncture as we knew it originally…His introduction to the basic premises of acupuncture is one of the best and most succinct I have yet read, and in treatment he utilizes an approach which is far deeper than subservience to a limited [school of thought]." – British Journal of Acupuncture

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Beginning in the mid-1990's, but particularly accelerated by the announcement of acceptable controlled clinical trial evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture by the National Institute of Health Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture in November 1997, public interest in acupuncture and traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine has grown at an unprecedented rate.

Because the authors we are privileged to publish have fully participated in the peer system, their work (some of which can be found in the References section of this site) has been recognized as seminal in the Western transmission of these traditional medical arts. However, we have generally been unprepared to handle the media attention. As full-time academics and clinicians whose responsibilities preclude their participation on the "conference circuit" and the usual book promotion events, they have been difficult, if not impossible, to reach for comment. For example, Stephen Birch and Richard Hammerschlag who created the materials examined at the Consensus Development Conference were never actually queried in all the press that conference engendered.

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